Wolf killed in Kansas first in more than a century
Male wolf killed by coyote hunters
cjonline.net
When coyote hunters killed a wolf-like animal in December, they thought it was too big to be a coyote. They were right.
Coyote hunters in northwest Kansas killed a large male canine that weighed more than 80 pounds, more than twice as much as a large coyote.
The hunters called the local Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism game warden, who contacted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents. The USFWS confirmed through tissue testing that the animal was a full-blooded Great Lakes gray wolf.
Because wolves are still on the threatened species list for Kansas, the matter was turned over to the USFWS. Agents then took tissue samples for testing. While uncommon, there are wolf-dog hybrids available through the pet trade, and many of those hybrids are indistinguishable from full-blooded wolves by appearance.
This is the first documented wolf in Kansas since 1905. There have been several wolves killed in Missouri, most recently this past November when a deer hunter shot what he thought was a coyote. That animal, which tested as a full-blooded wolf, weighed 81 pounds.
Officials still would like to know how this wolf ended up in Kansas. However, questions about its origin may be difficult to answer.
No comments:
Post a Comment